Apparatus for reading and identifying a data carrier in card form which has printing thereon

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a card-shaped data carrier comprising a card body which has an inner electronic module for contactless communication with a coding and/or reading device and an external heat sensitive layer for the visually readable display of data stored in the electronic module as a result of thermal impact. The heat sensitive layer is designed to be reversible such that marks can be inscribed in a first temperature range and existing marks can be deleted in a second temperature range. The heat-sensitive layer is disposed on the card body in at least one sub-area thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns an apparatus for reading and identifying a datacarrier in card form, which can have printing thereon, in particular atravel ticket or card, a ski pass or the like, which is provided atleast one side with a heat-sensitive layer for the visually readablerepresentation of data by a thermal effect, with atransport mechanismfor moving the data carrier in a flat passage which determines thetransport path, a device having a thermal print head for visuallyreadably identifying the data carrier, and a backing roller disposedopposite the thermal print head. The invention also concerns a datacarrier for use with such an apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A data carrier which includes an electrical module and which can be usedover a prolonged period of time is to be found for example inWO-A-92/21105, wherein parts which are essential for the user, of thedata contained in the electronic module can be represented in theheat-sensitive coating on the card body and can no longer be removed.Heat-reversible coatings and data carriers in card form which includesame are known for example from EP-A-174 902 or EP-A-344 789. In thatcase the erasing temperature range is generally between 50° and 100° C.and the writing operation is effected at temperatures above 110° C.Writing on the heat-sensitive coating can thus be erased and re-applied.

An apparatus of the kind set forth in the opening part of thisspecification is known for example from EP-B-199 234. The thermal printhead is rigidly arranged on the transport path and the oppositelydisposed backing roller is resiliently movably suspended. For reversibleprocessing of a thermal coating, above-mentioned EP-A-174 902 andEP-A-344 789 each diagrammatically show apparatuses in which the singlethermal print head is heated to the respectively required writing orerasing temperature. In that respect the thermal print head was intendedto perform two different functions: for erasing written characters, itis desirable if the entire surface to be processed is set to the erasingtemperature, as uniformly as possible. In contrast, the writingoperation is possible only by virtue of heating of the heat-sensitivecoating being effected in an only locally delimited manner, namelywithin the contours of the characters to be reproduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention therefore, for the reversibleprocessing of data carriers with a heat-sensitive coating, it isprovided that the thermal print head has a writing head which isoperative in the first temperature range for writing the heat-sensitivelayer and an erasing head which is operative in the second temperaturerange for erasing existing characters.

The two heads are preferably arranged in side-by-side relationship on acommon carrier in such a way that the data carrier passes firstly theerasing head and then the writing head. Thus old characters can beerased and new characters can be written in one processing operation,the writing times being reduced by virtue of the pre-heating effect inthe erasing operation.

The erasing head can also be used only for simply pre-heating theheat-sensitive coating, without characters being erased.

In the printing operation using the effect of heat, the data carriershould be slightly curved at least in the printing region so that thethermal print head bears approximately tangentially against the printregion. In order to reduce the susceptibility to trouble, the thermalprint head should come into contact with the data carrier only when itis actually used. As data carriers which not only have a zone which canbe printed upon by the effect of heat but additionally also include amagnetic strip and/or an electronic module are possibly of greaterthickness and involve an increased level of flexural stiffness, in afurther preferred embodiment of the apparatus the curvature of the datacarrier is produced by virtue of the backing roller being arrangedmovably towards the thermal print head, wherein the thermal print headis disposed in an outward bulge portion of the passage, so far outsidethe transport path that only passing data carriers do not touch thethermal print head.

The data carriers to be processed are therefore generally moved along aflat transport path. If the data carrier is to be processed by means ofthe thermal print head, the backing roller is actuated to flex the datacarrier by applying pressure thereto so that the data carrier is of thecurved configuration corresponding to the outward bulge portion of thepassage. The fact that a data carrier is not touched, due to thespecified distance, when the data carrier is (just now) not to beprinted upon, avoids unnecessary contamination and wear of the two headswhich, as the backing roller is moved in any case, are preferablyarranged on a carrier which is fixed in the outward bulge portion.

A further preferred construction provides that the read-identificationdevice comprises a bar code reader, a magnetic strip reader and/or an ICreader, wherein the thermal print head and the outward bulge portion ofthe passage are disposed between the bar code reader and the magneticstrip reader so that data carriers with a bar code, with a magneticstrip and/or with an electronic module (IC) can be read by machine andif necessary subjected to thermal treatment if for example the storagecontent or changes therein are to be made visually readable or a barcode is to be applied. A data carrier which is only to be checked passesfreely through in the flat transport path.

In the case of a data carrier in card form which, in accordance withabove-mentioned WO-A-92/21105, has an in particular multi-layer cardbody in which there is arranged an electronic module for in particularcontact-less communication with an encoding and/or reading apparatus,and a heat-sensitive layer, and the data of which are provided in anon-volatile, re-writable memory of the electronic module, for thepurposes of use with the apparatus according to the invention theheat-sensitive layer is designed both for writing with characters in afirst temperature range and also for erasing existing characters in asecond temperature range and is arranged on the card body at at least aportion thereof.

If a part of the data on the heat-sensitive layer is not to beover-writable but is to be maintained invariably, for example in thecase of personal data of the owner, then provided for such data in afurther second portion is a heat-sensitive layer which is notre-writable. For example the name of the owner can be entered in thesecond portion by thermal action, in which case any further thermalaction destroys the layer.

A preferred construction provides that the heat-sensitive layer which isnot re-writable is provided on a thermotransfer foil. In order to beable to re-use data carriers which are no longer required, in spite ofthe irreversible layer which in particular is written with owner-relateddata, and in order to be able to issue such a data carrier to a newowner, a further construction provides that the second portion isprovided on a transparent adhesive foil which is detachably connected tothe card body and which is for example a self-adhesive foil. Theadhesive foil is preferably stuck on to the card body only along an edgestrip, wherein the remaining region of the adhesive coating is coveredby a protective paper which can be pulled off.

The heat-sensitive layer which is not re-writable may be provided forexample only in a portion of the adhesive foil and a further thirdportion may be printed with printing ink. The heat-sensitive layer whichis not re-writable is provided in particular in the region which iscovered by the protective paper that can be pulled off, so that thefolded-back adhesive foil which is attached to the card body, togetherwith protective paper, can be inserted into the thermal printer. If athermotransfer foil is used for that writing operation, in particularthe thermotransfer foil is provided at the inside of the adhesive foil.In that respect it is particularly advantageous if the carrier of thethermotransfer foil, which carrier is to be removed, at the same timeforms the protective paper for the adhesive coating on the transparentadhesive foil.

A further fourth portion can be provided for the picture of the owner.Here, a first option provides that a photograph can be inserted betweenthe transparent adhesive foil and the card body. It is also advantageousin regard to arranging the photograph if the adhesive foil is fixed tothe card body only along the edge strip and the photograph is glued fastin position after removal of the protective paper, by the adhesive foil.

In order to provide a flat outside surface, the card body preferably hasa recess into which the photograph can be laid, the recess preferablybeing freed to receive the photograph by the removal of an insert whichis inserted in manufacture. The flat outside surface is thereforepresent even when no photograph is inserted. The insert comprises forexample a siliconised paper of a thickness of a normal photographicpaper.

A second option provides that the portion for the picture of the owneralso has a non-reversible heat-sensitive coating. This makes it possiblefor the picture of the owner to be simultaneously printed upon withother personal data. If the card body has the removable insert, it cantherefore either be provided with the photograph which is fitted intothe recess instead of the insert, or provided with the picture by theeffect of heat on the non-reversible heat-sensitive coating.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will now be described in greater detail hereinafter withreference to the Figures of the accompanying drawing, without beingrestricted thereto.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a data carrier according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view in longitudinal section through anapparatus according to the invention, and

FIG. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale of the thermal erasing andprinting region of the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A data carrier in card form is shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 and has a cardbody 1 which includes an electronic module and which in particularcomprises two plastic elements which are possibly pre-fabricated andwhich are pressed together. As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 2and 3 the card body 1 is surrounded by an edge ridge 2 in which anantenna 30 is arranged, and it is provided at both sides with a surfacerecess in which an outer layer is arranged. The data carrier has aplurality of visible portions 5, 6, 7 and 8. The portions 5, 6 and 7 areprovided on a transparent self-adhesive foil 3 which is detachablyarranged on the card body 1. The portion 7 is irreversibly thermallywritable, the portion 5 can be printed upon with normal printing ink andthe portion 6, for illustrating the owner of the data carrier, is eitherheat-sensitively coated in order to produce the picture by means of athermal printer or it is transparent in order to be able to see aphotograph 33 disposed therebeneath. Upon issue to the owner, theportions 5, 6 and 7 of the self-adhesive foil 3 are covered with aprotective paper 36 which can be pulled off, and only an upper edgestrip 4 is glued fast on the card body 1. When a photograph 33 is used,it is fixed in a recess in the card body by means of the transparentself-adhesive foil 3. If the picture is produced by means of a thermalprinter, the recess in the card body 1 is filled with an insert 34 (FIG.2) so that the card body 1 has a flat surface. The insert 34 ispreferably arranged in the card body 1 in manufacture and is removedwhen a photograph 33 is inserted. The insert 34 comprises in particulara siliconised paper which is easily removable from the recess.

Provided in the portion 7 which is not re-writable, upon issue of thedata carrier, is a thermotransfer foil 31; the carrier of theirreversibly heat-sensitive layer of the thermotransfer foil 31 at thesame time preferably represents the protective paper 36 of theself-adhesive foil 3. The adhesive side of the self-adhesive foil 3 istherefore written by a thermal effect so that the writing is protectedby external effects.

It will be appreciated that instead it is also possible to have adirect, irreversibly heat-sensitive coating in the portion 7 which isnot re-writable. In both cases, for the writing procedure, it ispossible for the self-adhesive foil 3 to be folded rearwardly and for itto be inserted with the protective paper 36 into a thermal printer inorder to produce script and/or picture.

Provided in the portion 8 is a reversible heat-sensitive layer 32 whichis provided on a foil fixedly joined to the card body 1, or which isdisposed directly on the card body. The heat-sensitive layer 32 iswritable in a first higher temperature range, for example between 110°C. and 130° C., in the usual manner, by virtue of a thermal effect usinga thermal printer. A further application of heat in a second lowertemperature range, for example between 80° C. and 100° C., erases thewriting so that the region 8 can be freshly written.

An outer layer is preferably also detachably inserted into the surfacerecess at the second side of the card body 1. At that side it ispossible for example to provide a decoration, an advertisement for thepurpose of use etc; in addition a second heat-sensitive region and amagnetic strip may be provided here.

The processing procedure (encoding, reading, checking etc) of the datacarrier which besides the heat-sensitive zone includes a magnetic stripand/or an electronic module is effected by means of an apparatus asshown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Extending in a housing 23 is a flat passage which is defined by twolateral U-shaped rails 19 and with which are associated rigidly orelastically mounted rollers 10 driven by a motor 11 and not driven, fortransporting a data carrier in card form through the passage. Providedalong the passage which defines a straight transport path is areading-identification device for all known kinds of data carriers incard form, which centrally at each flat side of the passage includes abar code reader 12, a thermal print head 15 with an oppositely disposedbacking roller 16, at least one magnetic read-write head 13 arranged atthe outside, with an oppositely disposed backing roller 14, and anIC-reader (not shown).

Between the bar code reader 12 and the magnetic strip reader 13 thepassage is provided with an outward bulge portion 9 and the thermalprint head 15 is arranged outside the transport path. Data carrierspassing through the passage therefore come into contact with the thermalprint head 15 only when a data carrier which is to be thermallyprocessed is lifted by the backing roller 16 which is actuable by way ofa lever 17 by an electromagnetic unit 18. As shown in broken line inFIG. 4 the data carrier is curved and finally processed. Accordinglycurvature of the data carrier occurs only at the respectively requiredtime and to the extent which results in the best possible printingeffect. The backing roller 16 is moved to a much greater degree than inthe case of known apparatuses as the outward bulge portion 9 is widerthan the greatest thickness of the data carriers to be passed through.The contact region of the backing roller 16 is therefore moved from aposition outside the transport path substantially through same towardsthe other side of the transport path and the gap is reduced to thedesired width.

As FIG. 3 shows in detail the thermal print head 15 has a writing head20 by means of which a heat-sensitive layer, that is to say also thereversible, heat-sensitive layer 32, can be written with characters ordata. The writing head 20 includes electrical resistance elements 21which can be actuated in the usual way and which are embedded in aprotective glass layer 22. In the transport direction 29, upstream ofthe writing head 20 a data carrier passes an erasing head 25 which isalso provided on the thermal print head 15 and lies in the outward bulgeportion 9. The erasing head is heated to a temperature which is about20° lower than the writing head 20 if writing which is present on thedata carrier is to be erased. The erasing head 25 includes a heatingwire or a heating foil 26 which is covered by a protective foil 27, isarranged on a resilient cushion 28, and is glued on to the thermal printhead 15 at a small spacing relative to the writing head 20. The erasinghead 25 can not only erase data to be removed, on the thermoreversiblelayer 32, but it also causes pre-heating of the heat-sensitive layer 32for the subsequent writing operation which as a result can take placesubstantially more quickly. Writing times of 2 msec can be achieved forexample so that use of the erasing head for just pre-heating isadvantageous, even if no characters are to be erased. In additioncontact of the erasing head also causes cleaning of the data carrier sothat the writing head 20 which is sensitive by virtue of the protectiveglass layer 22 is treated gently.

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for reading and identifying a data carrier incard form, which can have printing thereon, in particular a travel card,a ski pass or the like, which is provided on at least one side with aheat-sensitive layer or the visually readable representation of data bya thermal effect, with a transport mechanism for moving the data carrierin a flat passage which determines a transport path, a device having athermal print head for visually readably identifying the data carrier,and a backing roller disposed opposite the thermal print head,characterised in that the thermal print head has a writing head which isoperative in a first temperature range for writing the heat-sensitivelayer and an erasing head which is operative in a second temperaturerange for erasing existing characters.
 2. An apparatus as set forth inclaim 1 characterised in that the first the erasing head and then thewriting head are arranged in the transport direction of the datacarrier.
 3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 characterised in thatthe backing roller is arranged movably towards the thermal print head,wherein the thermal print head is provided in an outward bulge portionof the passage, so far outside the transport path that only passing datacarrier do not touch the thermal print head.
 4. Apparatus as set forthin claim 2 characterised in that the backing roller is arranged movablytowards the thermal print head, wherein the thermal print head isprovided in an outward bulge portion of the passage, so far outside thetransport path that only passing data carrier do not touch the thermalprint head.